AGRONOMIC PRACTICES ENHANCING THE PRODUCTIVITY OFBIDI TOBACCO (NICOTIANA TABACCUM L.)- A REVIEWS. Jaffar Basha, J. Manjunath and P. PullibaiAbstract Bidi tobacco is commercially cultivated under rainfed vertisols in the late rainy season i.e., September (2ndfortnight). Six-week-old seedlings should be planted during August-September at a planting geometry of 75cm x 75 cm and ridge planting is advisable for higher moisture conservation. Standard bidi tobacco production requires 110 kg N, 70 kg P2O5, and 50 kg K2O ha-1 which is closely dependent on mineral nutrient supply. Topping is done either at the bud stage or early flowering stage by keeping 12-15 leaves. Bidi tobacco is grown with two irrigations each at 5 cm depth / 0.4 IW/ CPE (first at 60 days after transplanting and second between 35-45 days after the first irrigation) increasing the yield which resulted from more leaf width. Foliar application of 2.5% KNO3 or 2.5% AS + SOP twice at 45 and 60 DAT to bidi tobacco is optimum for the supply of nitrogen and potassium under moisture deficit conditions. Application of foliar spray withTriacontanol 0.1% EW @ 2ml /l at early growth stage and grand growth stage is economical during drought period. Bidi tobacco recorded higher seed yield (532 kg ha-1) and oil yield (173.4 kg ha-1) when planted at 60cm x 60 cm with the application of 150 % RDF (165 N+105 P205+75 K2O ha-1). |